Re: Gallstone ileus

It DOES only result from fistulae - I'd have to look for a study but that is the case from combined experience. At the end of the day a case study is just a formal presentation of the experience of a physician/surgeon. I have worked for an academic upper GI surgery unit. I have plenty of experience myself.

We know from the structure of the bile duct that it wouldn't stretch up to let big Gallstones thru. There is no muscle to push stones through for a start. The bile ducts do dilate when they are obstructed but over days at least - and the person would be jaundiced.

When Gallstones cause pancreatitis the stools have to be sieved for the gallstones, because they are small and buried in the stool.
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